Idea for modification to the draft

[76woodenspooners]

Here's an idea for a modification to the draft I'll toss out there ...

One of the things that's put a dagger through my heart with the current draft system is that there are lads out there who grow up barracking for Collingwood (or whoever) and then they end up getting drafted to play with some other team. Of course, the kids are grateful to get any AFL gig, but I think something is lost when they miss out on the opportunity to play for their club.

Once upon a time kids used to grow up dreaming of playing for Collingwood. A lot of hard work and a bit of talent would guarantee them of achieving their dream. Nowdays a lot of hard work and a bit of talent gives kids a 1 in 18 chance of achieving their dream.

Imagine one of Eddie's lads playing for Carlton. That's just wrong.

Here's a possible solution: Have the AFL run a competition for boys every year. It might simply be a colouring in competition for under 7's, or a "why I want to play for Collingwood" for under 12's, or whatever - it doesn't necessarily have to be anything to do with how well they play footy. The AFL (not the club) judge the best 20 (for example) boys who can colour in or write a story for every club. Those boys will then get priority selection with that club when they become of age, in the same way the father and son rule currently works.

What this does is:
- Gives boys the opportunity of dreaming of playing for their team.
- Maintains the integrity of the draft system by not giving any advantage to any club.
- Gives us pundits another source of potential new blood to keep an eye on.

Thoughts?

 

[Ed D]

I don't think it'll ever happen, especially based on colouring in at an underage level, but I get what you're saying with true supporters of a club having a pathway to their chosen destination. Perhaps it could work more like a F/S pick? Say a player can nominate for a club and then opposition sides can bid for them, and then the selected club has the last bid. Still, I can't see it happening, and it would be too easy to cheat the system.

 

[TradeDraft]

I don't think it'll ever happen, especially based on colouring in at an underage level, but I get what you're saying with true supporters of a club having a pathway to their chosen destination. Perhaps it could work more like a F/S pick? Say a player can nominate for a club and then opposition sides can bid for them, and then the selected club has the last bid. Still, I can't see it happening, and it would be too easy to cheat the system.

Pretty Much Sum's it up there what I think.

Love it to Happen but Never Will as Teams can Cheat the System

 

[themidlandmaster]

That and GWS would never draft anyone

 

[Jedi01]

The AFL would not run any kind of competition for kids that would exclude girls.

Also......colouring in to see which team you play for in the future...really?

 

[76woodenspooners]

Love it to Happen but Never Will as Teams can Cheat the System

Cheating the system would easily be avoided by having the AFL doing the judging (I don't know about anyone else, but the vision of Adrian Anderson spending his days judging colouring-in competitions warms the very cockles of my heart).

But really, clubs have enough trouble picking winners at age 18 with the aid of draft combines and wotnot - surely picking winners pre-puberty is a lottery?

 

[76woodenspooners]

That and GWS would never draft anyone

Anybody think the concessions that new teams get during their early years doesn't already make up for it? Hey, give 'em a $2 scratchie to add to their salary cap during those years.

 

[76woodenspooners]

Also......colouring in to see which team you play for in the future...really?

It'd need to be some way for some young kid to express how desperately he wants to grow up and play for his club. Colouring in, writing a story, drawing a picture, whatever.

If it were football skills based (eg: best 7 year old handballers) then there'd be claims that teams with large supporter bases like ours would have an unfair advantage.

 

[76woodenspooners]

The AFL would not run any kind of competition for kids that would exclude girls.

Very good point.

Open the comp up to girls as well (eg: 10 boy winners, 10 girl winners). Girls would obviously get a different prize when they come of age. A work experience placement with the club perhaps? Or the girls get competency tested (just as the boys do) and the winner gets a sports training apprenticeship with the club?

At the time that they win, all kids get a tour of their club and get to meet the players. Imagine Eddie Wonka taking kids on a magical tour of the Westpac centre (Mike Teevee, please stay away from the controls to the altitude room).